Residential Electrician

The name ESCON (Electrical Solutions CONtracting) may be new, but the company’s roots run deep. Starting back in 1907 when Affleck Electric opened in Bay City and in 1946 when Essexville Electric opened in Essexville.

In the beginning, Essexville Electric focused on the radio and television industry while Affleck Electric’s original focus was on electrical contracting, electrical supplies and small home appliances.

Today, ESCON still provides some of those same core services throughout Michigan. ESCON is a full-service electrical contractor to residential, commercial and industrial customers. As the company grew it expanded its offerings into generators, fiber optic, structured cabling, card access and cameras.

The ESCON story begins in 1907 when George Affleck started Affleck Electric. After an accidental death during a storm in Yellowstone National Park, his son-in-law, Fred Waldbauer, took over the business. In 1945, Evert Fox began working for Affleck Electric and, in 1957, bought the business from Fred. At this time, the primary business was electrical contracting, However, Evert’s wife, Jean Fox, also sold lighting fixtures and small electric appliances. Then in 1975 James Fox purchased the business from his father Evert.

Not far from Affleck Electric, Frank Asel started Essexville Electric in 1946. Essexville Electric started out primarily serving the emerging radio and television market. The electronic boom was well underway and everyone wanted in on the action. Soon, the market was overwhelmed with new companies. Essexville Electric made the decision to focus on contracting. Frank and, later, his son, Dale, expanded Essexville Electric into commercial and industrial contracting work.

Farther north, Willard Taunt opened Taunt Electric in 1968. He focused on the residential market. The firm grew rapidly enough that by 1972, Willard called on his son, Craig, to come help run the family business. Craig, who inherited the business from his father, quickly expanded to seek work in the commercial market throughout Iosco, Gladwin and Midland counties.

All three businesses spent the next three decades growing and becoming industry leaders. In 2004, the Sponseller family bought Essexville Electric. They owned Mt. Pleasant-based Sponseller Electric, but wanted to expand their business more into the Tri-City area and in 2005 began completely operating as Essexville Electric. As Essexville Electric began to grow it gained new customers and with innovation and diversification, it expanded its portfolio into fiber optic, low-voltage solutions and into the Home Standby Generator Market. Through mergers and acquisitions Essexville Electric acquired Fiber Fusion, Affleck Electric, Thomas Electric and Taunt Electric.

In 2015 the decision was made to unite all of these industry leading companies under one new company name. This became the creation of the ESCON Group. 

ESCON Group’s quality service, unwavering safety and a culture of innovation began in 1907 and continues the strong tradition still today.